4. Adoption

'As many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.' John 1:12.

Having spoken of the great points of faith and justification, we come next to adoption.

The qualification of the persons is, ‘As many as received him.' Receiving is put for believing, as is clear by the last words, ‘to them that believe in his name.' The specification of the privilege is, ‘to them gave he power to become the sons of God.' The Greek word for power, exousia, signifies dignity and prerogative: he dignified them to become the sons of God.

Our sonship differs from Christ's. He was the Son of God by eternal generation, a son before time; but our sonship is, (1.) By creation. ‘We are his offspring.' Acts 17:78. This is no privilege; for men may have God for their Father by creation, and yet have the devil for their father. (2.) Our sonship is by adoption. ‘He gave them power to become the sons of God.'

Adoption is twofold. External and federal: as those who live in a visible church, and make a profession of God, are sons. ‘The children of the kingdom shall be cast out.' Matt 8:12. Real and gracious: as they are sons who are God's favourites, and are heirs of glory. Before I proceed to the questions, I shall lay down three positions.

L Adoption takes in all nations. A first adoption was confined to the people of the Jews, who alone were grafted into the true olive, and were dignified with glorious privileges. ‘Who are Israelites, to whom pertaineth the adoption and the glory.' Rom 9:9. But now, in the time of the gospel, the charter is enlarged, and the believing Gentiles are within the line of communication, and have a right to the privileges of adoption as well as the Jews. ‘In every nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted with him.' Acts 10:35.

II. Adoption takes in both sexes, females as well as males. ‘I will be a father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters.' 2 Cor 6:18. I have read, that in some countries, females are excluded from the supreme dignity, as by the Salique law in France, no woman can inherit a crown; but of spiritual privileges, females are as capable as males. Every gracious soul (of whatever sex) lays claim to adoption, and has an interest in God as a father. ‘Ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.'

III. Adoption is an act of pure grace. ‘Having predestinated us to the adoption of children, according to the good pleasure of his will.' Eph 1:1. Adoption is a mercy spun out of the bowels of free grace. All by nature are strangers, therefore have no right to sonship. God is pleased to adopt one, and not another; to make one a vessel of glory, another a vessel of wrath. The adopted heir may cry out, ‘Lord, how is it, that thou wilt show thyself to me, and not unto the world?'

What is this filiation or adoption?

It is taking a stranger into the relation of a son and heir; as Moses was the adopted son of King Pharaoh's daughter, Exod 2:20, and Esther was the adopted child of her cousin Mordecai. Esth 2:2. Thus God adopts us into the family of heaven, and God in adopting us does two things:

(1.) He ennobles us with his name. He who is adopted bears the name of him who adopts him. ‘I will write on him the name of my God.' Rev 3:12.

(2.) God consecrates us with his Spirit. Whom he adopts, he anoints; whom he makes sons, he makes saints. When a man adopts another for his son and heir, he may put his name upon him, but he cannot put his disposition into him; if he be of a morose rugged nature, he cannot alter it; but whom God adopts he sanctifies; he not only gives a new name but a new nature. 2 Pet 1:1. He turns the wolf into a lamb; he makes the heart humble and gracious; he works such a change as if another soul dwelt in the same body.

From what state does God take us when he adopts us?

From a state of sin and misery. Pharaoh's daughter took Moses out of the ark of bulrushes in the water, and adopted him for her son. God did not take us out of the water, but out of our blood, and adopted us. Ezek 16:6. He adopted us from slavery: it is a mercy to redeem a slave, but it is more to adopt him.

To what does God adopt us?

(1.) He adopts us to a state of excellence. It were much for God to take a clod of dust, and make it a star; it is more for him to take a piece of clay and sin, and adopt it for his heir.

(2.) God adopts us to a state of liberty. Adoption is a state of freedom; a slave being adopted is made a free man. ‘Thou art no more a servant but a son.' Gal 4:4. How is an adopted son free? Not to do what he lists; but he is free from the dominion of sin, the tyranny of Satan, and the curse of the law. He is free in the manner of worship. He has God's free Spirit, which makes him free and cheerful in the service of God; he is ‘joyful in the house of prayer.' Isa 56:6.

(3.) God adopts us to a state of dignity. He makes us heirs of promise, he installs us into honour. ‘Since thou west precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable.' Isa 43:3. The adopted are God's treasure; Exod 19:9; his jewels; Mal 3:17; his first-born; Heb 12:23. They have angels for their life-guards. Heb 1:14. They are of the blood royal of heaven. I John 3:3. The Scripture has set forth their spiritual heraldry; they have their escutcheon or coat-armour; sometimes the lion for courage; Prov 28:1; sometimes the dove for meekness; Cant 2:14; sometimes the eagle for flight; Isa 40:01: Thus you see their coat of arms displayed.

(4.) What is honour without inheritance? God adopts all his sons to an inheritance. ‘It is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.' Luke 12:22. It is no disparagement to be the sons of God. To reproach the saints, is as if Shimei had reproached David when he was going to be made king. Adoption ends in coronation. The kingdom God gives his adopted sons and heirs excels all earthly monarchies.

(1:) In riches. ‘The gates are of pearl, and the streets of pure gold, as it were transparent glass.' Rev 21:1I.

(2:) In tranquillity. It is peaceable, and the white lily of peace is the best flower in a prince's crown. Pax una triumphis innumeris melior [One peace is better than innumerable triumphs]. No divisions at home, or invasions abroad; no more the noise of the drum or cannon; but the voice of harpers harping is the hieroglyphic of peace. Rev 14:4.

(3:) In stability. Other kingdoms are corruptible; though they have heads of gold they have feet of clay; but the kingdom into which the saints are adopted runs parallel with eternity, it is a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Heb 12:28. The heirs of heaven reign for ever and ever. Rev 22:5.

What is the organic or instrumental cause of adoption?

Faith interests us in the privilege of adoption. ‘Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.' Gal 3:36. Before faith is wrought, we are spiritually illegitimate, we have no relation to God as a father. An unbeliever may call God judge, but not father. Faith is the affiliating grace; it confers upon us the title of sonship, and gives us right to inherit.

Why is faith the instrument of adoption more than any other grace?

Faith is a quickening grace, the vital artery of the soul. ‘The just shall live by faith.' Hab 2:2. Life makes us capable of adoption, dead children are never adopted. It makes us Christ's brethren, and so God comes to be our Father.

Use one: (1.) See the amazing love of God, in making us his sons. Plato gave God thanks that he had made him a man, and not only a man but a philosopher; but it is infinitely more, that he should invest us with the prerogative of sons. It is love in God to feed us, but more to adopt us. ‘Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God!' I John 3:3. It is an ecce admirantis, a behold of wonder.

The wonder of God's love in adopting us will appear the more if we consider these six things:

(1:) That God should adopt us when he had a Son of his own. Men adopt because they want children, and desire to have some to bear their name; but that God should adopt us when he had a Son of his own, the Lord Jesus, is a wonder of love. Christ is called ‘God's dear Son.' Col 1:13. A Son more worthy than the angels. ‘Being made so much better than the angels.' Heb 1:1. Now, since God had a Son of his own, and such a Son how wonderful God's love in adopting us! We needed a Father, but he did not need sons.

(2:) Consider what we were before God adopted us. We were very deformed; and a man will scarce adopt him for his heir that is crooked and ill-favoured, but rather him that has some beauty. Mordecai adopted Esther, because she was fair. When we were in our blood God adopted us. ‘When I saw thee polluted in thy blood, it was the time of love.' Ezek 16:6, 8. God did not adopt us when we were bespangled with the jewels of holiness, and had the angels, glory upon us; but when we were black as Ethiopians, diseased as lepers, was the time of his love.

(3:) That God should be at so great expense in adopting us. When men adopt, they have only some deed sealed, and the thing is effected; but when God adopts, it puts him to a far greater expense; it sets his wisdom to work to find out a way to adopt us. It was no easy thing to make heirs of wrath, heirs of the promise. When God had found out a way to adopt, it was no easy way. Our adoption was purchased at a dear rate; for when God was about to make us sons and heirs, he could not seal the deed but by the blood of his own Son. Here is the wonder of God's love in adopting us, that he should be at all this expense to accomplish it.

(4:) That God should adopt his enemies. If a man adopts another for his heir, he will not adopt his mortal enemy; but that God should adopt us, when we were not only strangers, but enemies, is the wonder of his love. For God to have pardoned his enemies had been much; but to adopt them for his heirs, sets the angels in heaven wondering.

(5:) That God should take great numbers out of the devil's family, and adopt them into the family of heaven. Christ is said to bring many sons to glory. Heb 2:20. Men adopt usually but one heir, but God is resolved to increase his family, he brings many sons to glory. God's adopting millions is the wonder of love. Had but one been adopted, all of us might have despaired; but he brings many sons to glory, which opens a door of hope to us.

(6:) That God should confer so great honour upon us, in adopting us. David thought it no small honour that he should be a king's son-in-law. I Sam 18:18. But what honour to be the sons of the high God! The more honour God has put upon us in adopting us, the more he has magnified his love towards us. What honour that God has made us so near in alliance to him, sons of God the Father, members of God the Son, temples of God the Holy Ghost! that he has made us as the angels, Matt 22:20; nay, in some sense, superior to the angels! All this proclaims the wonder of God's love in adopting us.

(2.) See the sad condition of such as live and die in unbelief They are not the sons of God. ‘To as many as received him, he gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.' No faith, no sonship. Unbelievers have no sign of sonship, they know not God. All God's children know their Father, but the wicked do not know him. ‘They proceed from evil to evil, and know not me, saith the Lord.' Jer 9:9. Unbelievers are ‘dead in trespasses.' Eph 2:2. God has no dead children; and not being children, they have no right to inherit.

Use two: Try whether you are adopted. All the world is divided into two ranks, the sons of God, and the heirs of hell. ‘To them he gave power to become the sons of God.' John 1:12. Let us put ourselves on a trial. It is no sign we are adopted sons, because we are sons of godly parents. The Jews boasted that they were of Abraham's seed, and thought they must needs be good, because they came of such a holy line. But adoption does not come by blood. Many godly parents have wicked sons; Abraham had an Ishmael; Isaac an Esau. The corn that is sown pure brings forth grain with a husk; so from him who is holy the child springs that is unholy. So that, as Jerome says, non nascimur filii [We are not born sons]; we are not God's sons as we are born of godly parents, but by adoption and grace. Well, then, let us try if we are the adopted sons and daughters of God.

The first sign of adoption is obedience. A son obeys his father. ‘I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites pots full of wine, and cups, and said unto them, Drink ye wine. But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine.' Jer 35:5. So, when God says drink not in sin's enchanted cup, an adopted child says, my heavenly Father has commanded me, and I dare not drink. A gracious soul not only believes God's promise, but obeys his command. True child-like obedience must be regular, which implies five things:

(1.) It must be done by a right rule. Obedience must have the word for its rule. Lydius lapis [This is the touchstone]. ‘To the law and to the testimony.' Isa 8:8o. If our obedience be not according to the word, it is offering up strange fire; it is will worship; and God will say, Who has required this at your hand? The apostle condemns worshipping of angels, which had a show of humility. Col 2:18. The Jews might say that they were loath to be so bold as to go to God in their own persons; they would be more humble, and prostrate themselves before the angels, desiring them to be their mediators to God. Here was a show of humility in their angel worship; but it was abominable, because they had no word of God to warrant it; it was not obedience, but idolatry. Child-like obedience is that which is consonant to our Father's revealed will.

(2.) It must be done from a right principle, from the noble principle of faith. ‘The obedience of faith.' Rom 16:26. Quicquid decorum est ex fide proficiscitur [All acceptable works proceed from faith]. Augustine. A crab-tree may bear fruit fair to the eye, but it is sour because it does not come from a good root. A moral person may give God outward obedience, which to the eyes of others may seem glorious; but his obedience is sour because it comes not from the sweet and pleasant root of faith. A child of God gives him the obedience of faith, and that meliorates and sweetens his services, and makes them come off with a better relish. ‘By faith Abel offered a better sacrifice than Cain.' Heb 11:1.

(3.) It must be done to a right end. Finis specificat actionem [The end determines the value of the deed]; the end of obedience is glorifying God. That which has spoiled many glorious services, is, that the end has been wrong. ‘When thou doest shine alms, do not sound a trumpet, as the hypocrites do, that they may have glory of men.' Matt 6:6. Good works should shine, but not blaze. ‘If I give my body to be burnt, and have not charity, it profits me nothing.' I Cor 13:3. The same I must say of a sincere aim; if I obey never so much, and have not a sincere aim, it profits me nothing. True obedience looks at God in all things. ‘That Christ may be magnified.' Phil 1:10. Though a child of God shoots short, yet he takes a right aim.

(4.) True child-like obedience must be uniform. A child of God makes conscience of one command as well as another. Quicquid propter Deum fit aequaliter fit [All things done for God are done with equal zeal]. All God's commands have the same stamp of divine authority upon them; and if I obey one precept because my heavenly Father commands me, by the same rule I must obey all. As the blood runs through all the veins of the body, and the sun in the firmament runs through all the signs of the zodiac; so true child-like obedience runs through the first and second table. ‘When I have respect unto all thy commandments.' Psalm 119:9. To obey God in some things of religion and not in others, shows an unsound heart; like Esau, who obeyed his father in bringing him venison, but not in a greater matter, as the choice of his wife. Child-like obedience moves towards every command of God, as the needle points that way which the loadstone draws. If God call to duties which are cross to flesh and blood, if we are children, we shall still obey our Father.

But who can obey God in all things?

Though an adopted heir of heaven cannot obey every precept perfectly, yet he does evangelically. He approves of every command. ‘I consent to the law, that it is good.' Rom 7:16. He delights in every command. ‘O how love I thy law!' Psalm 119:97. His desire is to obey every command. ‘O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!' Psalm 119:9. Wherein he comes short, he looks up to Christ's blood to supply his defects. This is evangelical obedience; which, though it be not to satisfaction, it is to acceptation.

(5.) True childlike obedience is constant. ‘Blessed is he that doeth righteousness at all times.' Psalm 106:6. Child-like obedience is not like a high colour in a fit, which is soon over; but like a right sanguine complexion, which abides; and like the fire on the altar, which was kept always burning. Lev 6:13.

The second sign of adoption is to love to be in our Father's presence. The child who loves his father is never so well as when he is near him. Are we children? We love the presence of God in his ordinances. In prayer we speak to God, in the preaching of his word he speaks to us; and how does every child of God delight to hear his Father's voice! ‘My soul thirsteth for thee, to see thy glory so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.' Psalm 63:3, 2. Such as disregard ordinances are not God's children, because they care not to be in God's presence. ‘Cain went out from the presence of the Lord.' Gen 4:16. Not that he could go out of God's sight, but the meaning is, ‘Cain went out from the church and people of God, where the Lord gave visible tokens of his presence.'

The third sign of adoption is to have the guidance of God's Spirit. ‘As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.' Rom 8:14. It is not enough that the child have life, but it must be led every step by the nurse; so the adopted child must not only be born of God, but have the manuduction of the Spirit to lead him in a course of holiness. ‘I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms.' Hos 11:1. As Israel was led by the pillar of fire, so God's children are led by the Spirit. The adopted ones need God's Spirit to lead them, since they are apt to go wrong. The fleshy part inclines to sin; the understanding and conscience are to guide the will, but the will is imperious and rebels; therefore, God's children need the Spirit to check corruption and lead them in the right way. As wicked men are led by the evil spirit - the spirit of Satan led Herod to incest, Ahab to murder, Judas to treason - so the good Spirit leads God's children into virtuous actions.

But enthusiasts pretend to be led by the Spirit, when it is an ignis fatuus, a delusion.

The Spirit's guidance is agreeable to the Word; enthusiasts leave the Word. ‘Thy Word is truth.' John 17:17. ‘The Spirit guides into all truth.' John 16:13. The Word's teaching and the Spirit's leading agree together.

The fourth sign is, that if we are adopted we have an entire love to all God's children. ‘Love the brotherhood.' I Pet 2:17. We bear affection to God's children, though they have some infirmities. There are spots in God's children; Deut 32:2; but we must love the beautiful face of holiness though it has a scar in it. If we are adopted, we love the good we see in God's children: we admire their graces, we pass by their imprudencies. If we cannot love them because they have some failings, how do we think God can love us? Can we plead exemption? By these signs we know our adoption.

Use three: Rejoice in the benefits of adoption.

What are the benefits which accrue to God's children?

(1.) They have great privileges. King's children have great privileges and freedoms. They do not pay custom. Matt 17:75. God's children are privileged persons, they are privileged from the hurt of everything. ‘Nothing shall by any means hurt you.' Luke 10:19. Hit you it may, but not hurt you. ‘There shall no evil befall thee.' Psa 91:10. God says not, No affliction shall befall his children, but, No evil; the hurt and poison of it is taken away. Affliction to a wicked man has evil in it, it makes him worse; it makes him curse and blaspheme. ‘Men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God.' Rev 16:6. But no evil befalls a child of God; he is bettered by affliction. Heb 12:20. The furnace makes gold purer. Again, no evil befalls the adopted, because no condemnation. ‘It is God that justifieth; who is he that condemneth?' Rom 8:83. What a blessed privilege is this, to be freed from the sting of affliction, and the curse of the law! to be in such a condition that nothing can hurt us! When the dragon has poisoned the water, the unicorn with his horn extracts and draws out the poison; so Jesus Christ has drawn out the poison of every affliction, that it cannot injure the saints.

(2.) The second benefit, if we are adopted, is that we have an interest in all the promises. The promises are children's bread. ‘Believers are heirs of the promises.' Heb 6:17. The promises are sure. God's truth, which is the brightest pearl in his crown, is pawned in a promise. The promises are suitable, like a medical garden, in which there is no disease but there is some herb to cure it. In the dark night of desertion God has promised to be a sun; in temptation, to tread down Satan. Rom 16:20. Does sin prevail? He has promised to take away its kingly power. Rom 6:14. Oh the heavenly comforts which are distilled from the promises! But who has a right to these? Believers only are heirs of the promise. There is not a promise in the Bible but a believer may say, This is mine.

Use four: Extol and magnify God's mercy, who has adopted you into his family; who, of slaves, has made you sons; of heirs of hell, heirs of the promise. Adoption is a free gift. He gave them power, or dignity, to become the sons of God. As a thread of silver runs through a whole piece of work, so free grace runs through the whole privilege of adoption. Adoption is a greater mercy than Adam had in paradise; he was a son by creation, but here is a further sonship by adoption. To make us thankful consider, in civil adoption there is some worth and excellence in the person to be adopted; but there was no worth in us, neither beauty, nor parentage, nor virtue; nothing in us to move God to bestow the prerogative of sonship upon us. We have enough in us to move God to correct us, but nothing to move him to adopt us, therefore exalt free grace; begin the work of angels here; bless him with your praises who has blessed you in making you his sons and daughters.